The Camden Scholars Program

The Camden Scholars Program provides opportunities for students from Camden with demonstratedacademic potential and significant financial need to receive a rigorous college preparatory experience in the Middle and Upper School at MFS. With the benefit of 40 years of experience and close attention to lessons learned, MFS has developed a truly distinctive program to enable Camden Scholars to succeed.

• The Camden Scholars Program has its roots in the ABC (A Better Chance) scholarship organization. The first Scholar, Seth Garcia, joined the Upper School as a freshman in 1974 and graduated in 1978.
• Scholars are selected after a very competitive and challenging nomination, testing and interview process. Candidates must be Camden residents.
• Scholars receive a nearly full-tuition scholarship. Lunch, books, fees, and transportation are all covered by the school, as well as extras such as underwriting for Intensive Learning travel opportunities.
• The Program was launched by Headmaster Alex MacColl, and has steadily evolved thanks to the leadership of many former and current faculty members including Cassandra Weaver Aldridge, Sam Washington, Dwight Wilson, Mary Williams, Karen Washington, and Tina Corsey. Today, Dorothy López is the Director of the Camden Scholars Program.
• In 2000, the program was expanded from only Upper School students to include seventh graders. Two Scholars now enter MFS in seventh grade and one or two in ninth grade. There are currently 18 Camden Scholars at MFS (4 in Middle School and 14 in the Upper School).
• Scholars have included students of African-American, Hispanic, Cambodian, Filipino, Korean, and Vietnamese ancestry.
• Nearly 120 Camden Scholars have earned MFS diplomas and have then gone to college, including a number who
matriculated to some of the nation’s most selective colleges and universities.